Following the critically acclaimed “Plague Of Rats”, BRAINSTORM continue to expand the lyrical universe inspired by Indian mythology while delivering the powerful songwriting, memorable hooks and unmistakable heaviness that have become the band’s trademark. At the same time, “Nightfall” will see the band embracing an even rawer and more dynamic approach, reaffirming the qualities that have made BRAINSTORM one of Germany’s most enduring metal acts.

Nightfall also introduces BRAINSTORM’s current lineup, welcoming bassist Danij Perl and drummer Kevin Lütolf. Together with vocalist Andy B. Franck and guitarists Torsten Ihlenfeld and Milan Loncaric, the renewed lineup has forged an album that confidently looks ahead while staying true to the band’s unmistakable identity.

Andy B. Franck comments:

“It’s been a while since you last heard from me, right? Well, buckle up — because next year sees the release of our new album, “Nightfall”, which takes us even deeper into the realm of Indian mythology and more demonic realms.

“Nightfall” brings you to a world of beauty and grace, but also of death and despair. I’m so excited and can’t wait to drag you all down into these abysses with me, haha! I’m really keen to bring more of that raw, primal power back into the traditional sound. The result is going to blow your minds, and with my friend Seeb (Sebastian ‘Seeb’ Leverman | Orden Ogan) at the mixing desk, we can look forward to an awesome metal album in the spring of ’27! So, get ready for an incredible journey…”

Further details about “Nightfall”, including a first single and more info, will be revealed in the coming months.

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Brainstorm photo by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)

Το άρθρο BRAINSTORM: NEW ALBUM (“NIGHTFALL”) ANNOUNCED! εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

by Dimitris Zacharopoulos

photos by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)

Blazon Stone were the first band of the night. Ever since their formation, they have drawn clear inspiration from Running Wild. In fact, this was my first real contact with their music, so I didn’t quite know what to expect. From the very first notes of their set, however, one thing became clear… they have some absolute killer songs! The quintet presented material that, while certainly serving as a tribute to Running Wild, is also highly inspired, expertly crafted and genuinely top-class. Their fast and melodic compositions, packed with drive and soul, soaring vocals and razor-sharp guitars, revealed a remarkably polished and complete band — one that stands far above many of the acts currently dragging power metal down. They had a powerful, crystal-clear sound, great chemistry on stage, and carried themselves with the confidence and aura of a big band. Anyone who loves Running Wild needs to check out Blazon Stone… NOW! And naturally, any fan of power metal is bound to go wild for these Swedes. I’ve tried to find even the slightest flaw in Blazon Stone’s performance, and honestly, I can’t find one.

Next up were Brainstorm. I’ve respected and followed Brainstorm for years; they carry a level of quality and dignity that naturally commands both respect and applause. Although they had played in Greece many years ago, this was actually the first time I got to see them live, which made me anticipate their set with great excitement. It didn’t take long for them to take the stage at the already packed Gagarin 205, where they were welcomed warmly by the crowd. The Germans delivered their serious and measured brand of heavy/power metal, satisfying even the most demanding listeners. Their guitars sounded crushingly heavy, perfectly serving their well-crafted compositions, which lean far more toward the American style than the typical Teutonic approach. Meanwhile, Andy B. Franck was spot-on with his powerful and stylish vocals, while maintaining excellent contact with the audience throughout the set. The well-chosen setlist pleased everyone — and they even played my personal favorite, “Highs Without Lows”. Their sound was top-tier, their performance technically flawless yet full of emotion, making it clear to everyone in attendance that Brainstorm had delivered a wonderful performance, just before Grave Digger took the stage.

After Brainstorm said their goodbyes, we started getting ready for Grave Digger — and then we heard the bagpipes of “The Brave”! The Germans stormed the stage, opening with “Scotland United” from the legendary “Tunes of War”. What followed? Pure chaos. The entire venue rose to its feet, burst into flames with excitement, and sang along with the one and only Chris Boltendahl. Watching that incredibly likable frontman, founder and leader of the band, you could see the living history of Teutonic heavy metal standing right there before you — a towering figure of rock and metal who had the entire crowd exactly where he wanted them. Digger performed the entirety of “Tunes of War”, and absolute mayhem erupted during “Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)”, one of heavy metal’s ultimate anthems.

What we experienced was absolute hell on earth — one of the most intense and emotional moments ever witnessed at a rock/metal concert in Greece – no exaggeration! The audience kept singing that immortal refrain long after the song had ended, leaving the four musicians visibly stunned. Then came five more of the very best Grave Digger songs — more than enough to send everyone into total metallic ecstasy. Band and fans were floating in pure happiness. The German musicians never stopped smiling; just looking at them was enough to make your heart lift. With phenomenal playing and a massive sound, they forced us into nonstop headbanging. The band eventually left the stage in an atmosphere of total euphoria, only to return after the crowd’s relentless chants for the encore of “Headbanging Man”, “Witch Hunter” and “Heavy Metal Breakdown”. It was the perfect ending to a phenomenal show, one in which Grave Digger led us straight into a heavy metal utopia. Chris Boltendahl, Tobias Kersting, Jens Becker and Marcus Kniep proved themselves to be the absolute heroes of heavy metal, silencing any doubters and showing once again that the veterans still know exactly how to create total pandemonium.

After everything extraordinary we had seen and heard, we left the club with our ears still ringing and our minds filled with beautiful memories. It was a magnificent live performance by Grave Digger, who rewarded us far beyond expectations. These are exactly the kind of moments that keep the myth of heavy metal alive — unforgettable moments that stay with you forever. And when the next time comes, we’ll be there again.

Το άρθρο GRAVE DIGGER, BRAINSTORM, BLAZON STONE – GAGARIN 205, ATHENS, GREECE – 27/04/2026 εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

Still riding on the wave of success caused by their 2025 album “Plague Of Rats” (February 28, 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music; DE #13, SE #13, AT #41, CH #42, GR #50), Southern German heavy/power metallers BRAINSTORM use the final weeks of the warm season by having a creative stopover at the beach on their way back from the myth-enshrouded Indus world. Today, they present nothing but a metalled-up take on Don Henley’s classic track ‘The Boys Of Summer’ to their fans.

The track was recorded during BRAINSTORM’s “Plague Of Rats” sessions in 2024, and the timing of its release couldn’t be more fitting as the group have entered the final stages of this year’s festival season.

Vocalist Andy B. Franck adds: “Even though ‘The Boys Of Summer’ deals with rather nostalgic themes of ‘summer love’ and the memory of a past relationship, for me – at the time a 13-year-old – it was, beyond the metal anthems of the 80s, a great song that I associated with summer, girls and the corresponding feeling for many, many years. Don Hanley and the EAGLES are simply awe-inspiring. Even today, this song still evokes great memories for me, and since it’s also a song about questioning the past, this track fits perfectly into our times. I’m proud that we recorded it, and maybe it will be part of a show soon. People will love it and then share memories with this, our version!”.

But the metal world doesn’t have to worry – the band are far from resting on their latest laurels: Behind the curtain, BRAINSTORM have been working on extending their 2025/2026 “Plague Of Rats” touring cycle, and the announcement of more live dates following their confirmation for the next edition of Summer Breeze Open Air (Dinkelsbühl, Germany) is really just a matter of time… Stay tuned!

Το άρθρο BRAINSTORM – “THE BOYS OF SUMMER” εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

BRAINSTORM, Southern Germany’s well-established metal powerhouse, will not only kick-off a European run with their label mates ARION in less than two weeks, but also unleash their long-awaited new album “Plague Of Rats” on February 28, 2025 via RPM. Like first single ‘Garuda (Eater Of Snakes),’ their new track ‘The Shepherd Girl (Gitagovinda)’ takes listeners back to ancient India and mythology, a major topic of the upcoming record.

Telling a story about a supernatural yet passionate relationship between Krisha, who’s mostly known as the god of love and joy but also as patron of shepherds, his wife as well as their playmates, the gopis aka ‘The Shepherd Girls,’ the single delivers uplifting traditional tunes which lead into a simply powerful, stomping track. Instrumentally it bethinks of the original heavy metal way with stripped down orchestrations compared to previous single ‘Beyond Enemy Lines.’‘The Shepherd Girl (Gitagovinda)’ is nothing but a must for BRAINSTORM’s next live sets based on its anthemic chorus alone! Its music video, once again directed by Mirko Witzki at Witzki Visions, complements the message of the song perfectly by delivering sceneries of shiny temples and other Indus culture elements.

Frontman Andy B Franck states: “‘Gitagovinda,’ our third single, is a Sanskrit poem written in the royal court of Bengal in the 12th century. It describes the love relationship between the Hindu god Krishna, his consort Radha and the gopis, the shepherd girls. Yes, I really like this mythology. That’s perhaps one of the cultures in the history of the world that deserves a little more attention. The original work combines influences from religious mysticism with eroticism. Seduction, love adventures and the devoted worship of the god are given great importance. A text full of deep melancholy and despair, but also a mirror of a soul with an insight into the deepest hopes and longings. It’s maybe a little unusual for us, but definitely worth reading.”

Το άρθρο BRAINSTORM – “THE SHEPHERD GIRL (GITAGOVINDA)” εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.

Southern German hard ‘n’ heavy powerhouse BRAINSTORM is finally breaking their musical silence. Their upcoming album, “Plague Of Rats,” is set to drop on February 28, 2024, through their new label partner, RPM. Today, they’ve given fans a taste of what’s to come with the release of the album’s first single. Rest assured, the band haven’t taken a detour into fairy-tale territory with this India-inspired record. Instead, they deliver a pure heavy metal anthem with the track ‘Garuda (Eater Of Snakes).’

The single tells the tale of Garuda, the mythological half-human, half-eagle creature known for slaying snakes and serving as the messenger of the gods. With its powerful riffs and Far Eastern melodies, ‘Garuda (Eater Of Snakes)’ bursts forth as a dynamic and fitting introduction to “Plague Of Rats.” This track doesn’t just live up to its name – it’s a striking first glimpse into the album’s sonic landscape. The accompanying music video, crafted by Mirko Witzki, delves deeper into the rich tapestry of Indian mythology and legends, immersing fans in this mystical world.

“The wait is over and we couldn’t be more happy to finally release new music to our fans – and ‘Garuda’ is the perfect introduction to our upcoming album “Plague Of Rats”: it’s heavy and powerful and you feel connected to the music, the beat, the riffs and the melodies immediately!” comments guitarist Torsten “Todde” Ihlenfeld.

Το άρθρο BRAINSTORM – “GARUDA (EATER OF SNAKES)” εμφανίστηκε πρώτα στο Myth Of Rock.